One technology of high interest was the digital watermark-enabled thermoforms from TEQ (formerly Thermoform Engineering Quality), a Sonoco company.

Packaging Digest readers may be familiar with the Digimarc technology through the industry’s Holy Grail 2.0 initiative to enable high-speed automated sortation of mixed plastics packaging. The digital watermark can be read by specialized optical readers.

Leveraging that same technology, TEQ can thermoform medical-quality sheet with a Digimarc code, a covert watermark that be read by any smartphone with a camera and the Digimarc app.

For TEQ’s medical packaging, the code can be embedded in the polymer sheet during thermoforming. High-quality, laser-engraved molds assure a readily readable watermark.

In short, TEQcode offers dynamic consumer engagement opportunities and that may someday eliminate the need for labels and inserts.

Plus there’s the opportunity for track-and-tracing to the batch/stock-keeping (SKU) level.

According to TEQ’s Todd McDonald, global director of sales and marketing, the benefits of digital watermarks can be extended from manufacturing to consumer through to post-use recycling.

We’ll be reporting on the TEQcode more in-depth next week.